film criticism by maryann johanson | since 1997
Smith wants his fans to pay $60 to see his new movie, Red State, in order to support independent filmmaking and independent distribution. Could any movie possibly be worth that, even to Smith’s legions of fans?
Plus: Kevin Smith was lying about how cool it was to direct Bruce Willis in Cop Out; CBS now stealing ideas from German TV; Joan Rivers gets kicked off Fox for bitching about Sarah Palin; more…
U.S. AND CANADA/OPENING WIDE Shrek Forever After: Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and Puss square off against the evil tyrant Rumpelstiltskin. Scary. [trailer] review to come If you can’t make it to the multiplex, try: • Shrek 2 (2004): Still the best in the series, with one of the greatest character intros ever (for Puss in Boots). … more…
The other day, Kevin Smith let loose on his Twitter feed about how much he hates the “nasty bloodsport” and “AnimalFarm bullshit” of film criticism in the age of the Internet. All because most of my fellow critics hated Cop Out with a passion. In my case, it’s the kind of passion reserved for those … more…
Impossible things: 1. Alice in Wonderland: $116.1 million (NEW) 2. Brooklyn’s Finest: $13.4 million (NEW) 3. Shutter Island: $13.2 million (3rd week; drops 42%) 4. Cop Out: $9.3 million (2nd week; drops 49%) 5. Avatar: $8.1 million actual numbers, not estimates This was the biggest March weekend ever, led by Alice, the biggest March opener … more…
While crazy cops and zombie farmers do well, too: 1. Shutter Island: $22.7 million (2nd week; drops 45%) 2. Cop Out: $18.2 million (NEW) 3. The Crazies: $16.1 million (NEW) 4. Avatar: $13.7 million 5. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief: $9.6 million (3rd week; drops 37%) actual numbers, not estimates Over its … more…
obsession: Canadian TV (and film) (because I’m hungry for something new and good) boyfriend: Esai Morales in Caprica (not so much his character, though: he’s sorta sad and scary) psyched: Alice in Wonderland (even though I’m still on Disney’s shitlist) girl crush: no one dreading: She’s Out of My League (for perpetuating obnoxious stereotypes) enemy: … more…
We know how it is: You’d like to go to the movies this weekend, but soldiers in gas masks have your town surrounded and will shoot on sight if you try to leave. But you can have a multiplex-like experience at home with a collection of the right DVDs. And when someone asks you on … more…
Shame on Silent Bob. I realize that times is tough and everyone’s gotta make a living, and that that’s probably why Kevin Smith agreed to direct a big-budget studio buddy action comedy. But shame on him anyway.
From the same MTV article whence came the Kevin Smith quote that formed the core of yesterday’s QOTD about the Southewest Airlines debacle comes a completely unrelated quote from the filmmaker that struck me. About his latest movie, Smith says: “[‘Cop Out’] has nothing to say itself; it’s a popcorn movie,” he explained. “Let me … more…
